BOWYNN GODS: TORA

QUESTION & ANSWER: Maenna

QUESTION: I saw your Bio on the goddess Maenna. It gave me chills in that she sounds like the Egyptian Goddess and concept of Maat. May there be a connection of the two? I ask because I have become interested in Maenna since I read your article.

ANSWER: Knowing of Maat very well I can say that, yes, there is somewhat of a connection. Maenna is the divine version of Bia. Balance and Order. We pray to Maenna to make sure there is an order when bad, evil and discourse become over inflated. So yes, we as the children of the gods must make sure balance is attained.

Blessed Winter Solstice

My Prayer to the Briora, Keepers of Wisdom

O Wise Briora, Spirits of Knowledge and Order, I call upon you, revered protectors of our cherished tomes and sacred scrolls. In your diminutive forms, you embody the vast wisdom of ages, and I bow before your eternal essence, forever entwined with the treasures of literature. O Briora, guardians of the libraries, bring forth your light to illuminate my mind and heart. As you wander amongst the shelves, sorting and reading, infuse my thoughts with understanding, and guide my quest for knowledge. Let your whispers steer me towards the truths hidden within the pages of the books, where wisdom dwells like a precious gem. With humble reverence, I offer thanks for the peace and order you bring to our sacred spaces. O Briora, as you lovingly arrange the volumes that tell our stories, grant me the wisdom to organize my own life, bringing clarity and harmony to the chaos that often arises. May my path be as well-ordered as the books upon the shelves you adore.

O Gentle Spirits, may my heart always seek knowledge as a treasure waiting to be discovered. In times of doubt and confusion, may I remember your presence as I turn each page, feeling your guiding hand in every word. As you dwell among the whispers of our histories, inspire me to listen, learn, and grow. In honor of your tireless work, I lay before you simple gifts—candles to illuminate the dark corners of wisdom and incense to waft the fragrant essence of devotion. May these offerings please your spirits, for they are but small reflections of my respect and appreciation for your guardianship over the knowledge we treasure. So shall it be, enveloped in the blessings of the Briora, the wise protectors of books and guardians of knowledge.

Syember!

Bowynn Gods: Mystara

Mystara  (Mis-tar-ah)  Mystara is the Bowynn goddess of all forms of magickal, mystical and esoteric arts. This includes Divination, Healing, Dream Work and all arts that can be filed in the term of being esoteric. Mystara is also the patroness to Mysts [witches,] diviners and oracles. All those that deals with the arts of mysticism falls in the realm of the goddess Mystara. She is the daughter of Ehrlik and a mortal woman, [supposedly] whose name is unknown.

     Most of Mystara’s life is spent working with witches and other mystics, be it in temples, covens, circles, groves or solely in their homes. It is said that the goddess travels from town to town looking for the "wise ones" in the form of a cat. Accompanying her are sometimes the Hii, fae folk of the mystical and magical arts. Hii are also said to attend her in any workings she may labor over. Mystara has no sacred tales spoken about her or known. But she is spoken more than often in the here and now, attending Mysts [witches]in their own work, granting spells to manifest and making sure the spells cast are justified. Yet despite all this, she is a most important goddess in the Bowynn pantheon. She is revered by women and men equally, not just as a goddess of magick but also a goddess that protects Mysts and blesses new Mysts in rites of initiation and empowerment. For it is Mystara that raises young Myst's minds and bodies, to that of being a learned and powerful. Despite all this, Mystara is NOT a dark goddess. She is not clad in all black, she does not harbor wicked and evilness. There is nothing dark nor mysterious about Mystara. She will however attend to those who use the arts of magic in a malicious manner justly. Casting curses, hexes and binding spells will catch Mystara's attention quickly and she will make sure it is not done recklessly nor unjustly. Calling on Mystara before casting a spell is beyond common practice, so she may witness all goings-on. Mystara will punish those that cast spells wrongfully and vengefully.

     Mystara is seen as a mother figure in appearance, with black hair that is veiled. Her clothing is said to be is purple and autumn-like colors, with gold or copper embroidery and jewelry. Encircling her brow is a crown that bares the runes that make up the Bowynn alphabet, which is also used for divination. When not in her godly form, she is seen as an elegant black cat with glowing blue eyes; the cat being her totem.

     Sacred to Mystara are all the symbols of magic, divination and other such arts, as well as votive images of cats. Though the most gifted offering one can give to her is bundles of incense. Traditionally on certain holidays of the year, Incense sticks in the multiples of 100 are burned to Mystara as offerings. the numbers 100 and 7 are a most sacred number to her, so any offering given in amounts of 100 and 7 appeases Mystara a great deal. And 7 is the most scared number in the Bowynn faith.

Bowynn Gods: Gorto

Gorto  (Gor-toe)  The Gorto are Kii of forges and kilns. The Gorto are the helpful spirits of potters and blacksmiths. These Kii are said to be some of the small servants to brothers Kalen, Gondor and their wives. The Gorto try to assure that pottery will not shatter while baking and metal wares will not overheat or bend wrong while being forged. The Gorto will take residence most of the time in blacksmith's and potter's shops, close to the forges and ovens. Gorto often work hand in hand with The Abbonna.

Smithies, will have images of Gorto carved in their anvils and hammers, and Potters with have their images on the sides of their kilns. Potters and Blacksmiths will make the first object they create devoted to the Gorto or in the shape of a Gorto, this is a way of asking the Gorto to bless the crafter in all they make there-after.

The Gorto (left and right in the 2nd row) working hard in the home of Gondor

Bowynn Gods: Dhonan

Dhonan  (Ah-ku-ah)  Dhonan is a mortal blessed god of love and passion. He was born mortal, his parents names unknown. But he was given the rare and blessed gift of immortality and took the role of that of a god of passion and true love.

     Dhonan was a simple ranger and hunter in his mortal life but in mortal terms, he was extremely handsome. Handsome enough that he caught the attention of Brenda, goddess of love. For the longest time she would visit Dhonan while he was out in the forests hunting and trapping, presenting herself in the guise and a simple woodsman's daughter. These daily encounters lasted a good long time because Brenda never revealed to him who she was. Eventually Dhonan found out the truth, talking to a wood Kii but his heart never changed for the goddess. At the same time both Dhonan and Brenda knew that this love they shared could not last because Brenda knew she could not live amongst mortals and Dhonan would never be allowed to live in Alaway. Brenda went to Dhonan one last time while he slept. This was to bid him goodbye. The goddess Kalma was so moved by this devotion that she allowed him to pass quietly in his sleep and then granted him the blessing of immortality, thus making him a god. In this way Brenda and Dhonan would be united forever.

The Wedding of Dhonan and Brenda was said to be oone of the grandest ever. All of that Kykua attended, in a grand forest under a white canopy.

     As a god, Dhonan is a most loving god. He blesses couples of weddings to uphold the vow of love and to hold it unconditionally. He is seen as a handsome young man, dressed more than often in hunting garb with a quiver of arrows on his back and bow in hand. Most of the time Dhonan is seen with his consort, Brenda but at weddings he is seen with the goddess Rhya, blessing and sanctifying the wedding couple. Dhonan sees that vows and oaths of love are kept. This is his main attribute.

     Sacred to Dhonan is the wedding fillet that is used to symbolically bond the couples' hands. Also sacred to him is the bow and arrow and a wreath of ivy, which Dhonan is sometimes said to be seen wearing.

Dhonan and Brenda

The wedding procession of gods to the union of Dhonan and Brenda

Bowynn Gods: Boquinn

Boquinn (Bow-kwin)  (also Soquinn) The Boquinn are the Bowynn are Kii giants of the forests and mountains and the protectors of them. Boquinn are hairy ape-like spirits, they are often solitary wanderers of the unlike other Kii that often work together. They were created by Brand to keep the woodlands safe from Mano’s wrath and pranks and the destructiveness of the Tii. Unlike other Kii, they do not speak like humans but more like animals. Legends say that for a person to see a Boquinn, will bring the person great blessings. The Boquinn are in general, peaceful, unless people get too close. When a Boquinn does present itself as vicious, it is normally a warning that some great change is about to take place that will disrupt their homeland.

Happy Harvest Day!!

Bowynn Gods: Brand

Brand (Brand)  Brand is the god of music, prophecy and oracles. Brand is the son of Anhur and Rhya and the twin brother to Kord and brother of Brenda. His very name means “Light.” Not physical light but Light as in “Enlightenment.”

     There was always a special friendship and bond between Brand and his brother Kord. This was clear from their birth. So close were the two that their cousin Mano became enraged with jealousy. Often Mano would pick on the brothers. Brand in particular for Brand was considered the most handsome of the male gods. So, it was more than often that Mano would play practical jokes on the two. This went on for many years. However, one day, one of Mano’s jokes went too far and backfired on himself. So enraged, Mano wanted revenge on Kord and Brand more than ever.  He took Brand’s sister Brenda, the goddess of love and hid her in a cave and trapped her there. This started a long war between the three young men. Then one day while Brand was sleeping in a field, Mano attacked and slew him. Kord in the meantime, not knowing this, snuck into Mano’s home and freed Brenda.

     When they got back to Brand, it was too late, the handsome god was dead. While Brenda wept for her brother, Kord went on a mad hunt and after a long battle, defeated Mano and imprisoned him. Back at his brother’s side, Kord and Brenda wept and begged the gods of the world of souls to bring Brand back. Anhur said that to bring Brand back, Kord and Brenda would have to go to the underworld and bargain with Chumash. This Brenda and Kord did and the god was taken back with Brenda's plea that Chumash brought Brand back to life.

      It was also during this war against Mano that Brand and his brother Kord created the Kii in order to protect the land that battled on and mortals. Some of the Kii they created were small and others large, depending on the attribute they were bestowed to protect. Not to be outdone however Mano created the Tii, spirits of ill repute.

Since Brand's resurrection Brand took up less of a role as a warrior and more of a god of wisdom. He built, with the help of the god Kane, the first Vlanato Thanto {Oracle's Temple}, blessed and sanctified the first Vlanatos {Oracles} and gave instructions on the design for Bowynn Thantos {Temples}. He also created the strict codes by which all vlanstos need to live by. By taking the Bowynn alphabet he devised a divination system for people to use.

      Together with his brother Kord, the two represent the epitamy of brotherhood and friendship. One being the defended and protector and Brand being the thinking and voice of wisdom. The two together see over friendship and the rights of blood-brother making. They guard well over such friendships. Brand’s harp and voice is said to be that which brings such friendships together.

     Brand is considered of all the gods, the most handsome. This beauty is called ‘radiant’, and some say his presence and beautiful radiance has a sort of hypnotic power. Brand and Kord’s deep friendship are considered the very symbolism of true brotherhood. In art and in visions Brand is at most times depicted as a handsome young man, clean shaven, with light colored hair and carrying either a lute or flute. Brand has two immortal golden gryphons as steeds, which are his companions. Their names are Amber Wind and Honey Wind. Sacred to Brand are the Gryphon, Cattle, the harp, flute, amber stone and wreath of oranges or limes.

Kord and Brand Bronze of Brand

Bowynn Gods: Kauldra

Kauldra (Kol-drah)  Queen of the sea and goddess of all fresh waters. Her name in English translates to the world "Cauldron." Be it raging ocean or trickling brook, she is in charge of it. And though she is queen of the sea, her watery aspect seems to be more confined to fresh waters, while her husband Tane, is more opt to salt water. She is the daughter of Sumon and Phoenix.      Sacred stories of Kauldra are not too many. She was to wed Tane, the king of the seas but like her two sisters, she challenged Tane to prove he was a worthy husband first. Tane built Kauldra a grand sea-bound castle of beauty and grace. But she did not accept. Kauldra's postponement of the wedding went on and on till at last Tane had nothing more to offer the goddess but his everlasting love. And it was that which Kauldra accepted and agreed to marry the sea king.

Another tale says when Kauldra was born, the god Gondor fashioned a cauldron as a gift, which she could look in and see the world at her wish. the cauldron is said to hold a drop of water from every river, stream, pond, ocean, sea, fountain and waterway in the world. Kauldra was also said to have given all the animals of the sea color. Before that, they were colorless.      Kauldra is said to resemble a lady of dignified grace, tall and slender. Her robes and garments are long and flowing and the colors of blues and greens. Kauldra’s skin is said to be a bit pale, bares raven colored hair and azure eyes. Her crown is designed of silver with sea horses and shells. Sacred gifts to Kauldra are cooked fish, water, coral, shells, sachets of sand and any plants of the sea or plants like water reeds or water lilies. And of course incense.